Jiggly Caliente, the beloved drag performer and television personality who rose to fame on RuPaul's Drag Race, has died at age 44 following complications from a severe infection that recently led to the amputation of most of her right leg, her family announced Sunday.
Caliente, whose real name was Bianca Castro-Arabejo, died peacefully at 4:42 a.m. on April 27, surrounded by family and close friends, according to a statement posted on her Instagram page. "Her legacy is one of love, courage, and light," the family said. "Though her physical presence is gone, the joy she shared and the space she helped create for so many will remain forever."
Caliente had alerted fans to her health crisis just three days earlier, when her family disclosed that she was hospitalized with a serious infection and had undergone a major amputation. The announcement Sunday confirmed her passing but did not specify additional details about the infection.
A fixture in the entertainment world and an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, Caliente first gained national attention competing on Season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2011, placing eighth. She later returned for Season 6 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2021. Her stage name was inspired by the Pokémon character Jigglypuff, combined with the Spanish word for "hot."
Born in the Philippines and raised in New York City, Caliente expanded her career beyond drag competition shows. She had a recurring role on FX's acclaimed series Pose as Veronica and made appearances on other shows including Broad City and Search Party. Most recently, she served as a judge on Drag Race Philippines and co-hosted Translation, the first talk show led by an all-trans cast on a major network.
Caliente publicly came out as transgender in 2016 and remained a visible and celebrated advocate for trans visibility and equality. "A luminous presence in the worlds of entertainment and advocacy, Jiggly Caliente was celebrated for her infectious energy, fierce wit, and unwavering authenticity," her family wrote.
